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Island Yacht Club / Women's Sailing Seminar
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IYC Northern California Women's Sailing Seminar
September, 2021


And that's a wrap - the IYC 2020 Northern California Women's Sailing Seminar was a success!

Women’s Sailing Seminar weekend featured 3 days of classes and other interactive events tailored to suit every level of sailing experience. Now in its 28th year, Women’s Sailing Seminar featured volunteer women expert sailing instructors, including: Nathalie Criou - renowned “Race to Alaska” skipper at Nathalie Criou Racing, and Behan Gifford - sailing celebrity, coach and author at Sailing Totem.
2020 attendees - view recordings and program
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Women's Sailing Seminar 2020 agenda

The WSS weekend will feature classes tailored for both new and experienced sailors alike. With our new format, we'll be interacting virtually--and you can revisit our classes with our recorded sessions.

The agenda below is subject to change as we confirm our speakers and session content! Please subscribe to our email updates above for the latest.

Friday events

Time

Session

Instructors

Summary

7 - 8:30pm

Racer Chicks

Dawn Chesney,

Cindy Wagner,

Nathalie Criou &

Sandy Andersen Wertanen

Have a need for speed? Join everyday and next-level sailing athletes for an evening of storytelling and inspiration. Learn how you can increase your time on the water, build skills and reach your goals as a competitive sailor.

Saturday events

Time

Session

Instructors

Summary

8:00am

Welcome!

Melissa Grudin

Let’s start the day by reviewing our schedule together - welcome to WSS weekend!

8:00am - 8:55am

Yoga for Sailors

Julie Lucchesi

Join us for gentle exercises designed to maintain strength, flexibility and sailing fitness in key muscle groups. The ideal way to prepare you for a day of sailing and WSS!

9:00am - 10:25am

Sailing Terminology

Dawn Chesney & Lauren Eisele.

It isn't the "front and back of the boat"! A summary of important nautical terms (and a little history) for beginner sailors.

10:30am - 11:55am

Essential Knots and Situational Awareness

Alice Watts & Laura Parent

Practical knots and line-handling skills for beginner and intermediate sailors.

12:00pm - 12:55pm

Watercolor Workshop

Margaret Fago

Learn techniques and creative skills for capturing the beauty and dynamism of sailing and water scenes.

1:00pm - 2:25pm

Seamanship

Christine Weaver & Marianne Armand

How to maneuver around other boats, prepare for when things go wrong--and plan an enjoyable daysail on San Francisco Bay.

2:30pm - 3:55pm

Racing Skills

Nathalie Criou & Emily Zugnoni

Learn the essential techniques and strategies to performance sailing. Have the skills and mindset to win!

4:00pm

Raffle

WSS team

Win exciting prizes, including sailing lessons, experiences and holiday gifts! Buy your raffle tickets up until 3pm PT on Saturday at: iyc.org/raffle

Sunday events

Time

Session

Instructors

Summary

8:00am

Welcome!

Melissa Grudin

What’s in store? Let’s review our schedule and get ready for Day 2!

8:00am - 8:55am

Yoga for Sailors

Anja Castner

Gentle exercises for maintaining strength, flexibility and sailing fitness in key muscle groups.

9:15am - 9:55am

Keynote: Family Cruising Around the World

Behan Gifford, Sailing Totem (sailingtotem.com)

Behan of Sailing Totem will share an uplifting session on what it takes to make the change to full-time cruising - all while managing family and a professional career!

10:00am - 11:25am

Panel: Dress for Success / Destinations on San Francisco Bay

Amanda Webber & Kira Maixner

Are you ready to play on the bay? Stay warm and look great with our team's advice on making sure you have the right gear for all weather conditions.

11:25pm - 11:55am

Coffee break

Noon - 1:25pm

Panel: From Crew to Captain

Zara Haimo, Maddie Richards, Lauren Eisele, Janet Frankel & Margaret Spencer

Want to attain experience and perhaps even get licensed? Learn from our panel, who have made sailing a big part of their lives - for both business and pleasure!

1:30pm - 2:55pm

Panel: International Liveaboards in Changing Times

Lindsay Dreibelbis, Behan Gifford, Nancy Hird, Vandy Shrader & Virginia Gleser

Enjoy lunch while learning about living on the water during a particularly turbulent year! From hurricanes and COVID, we've faced - and overcome - the challenges that have blown our way.

3:00pm

Closing remarks and gratitude

WSS team

Thank you for making WSS 2020 a success!

Treat a friend with a WSS e-Gift Card!

Give the gift of sailing education, with online gift credit for WSS 2021.
Buy a gift card

Catch up on our storytelling nights

Women's Storytelling Night #1 
​

Monday, Sept 18
Theme: "Mother Nature"
Featuring storytellers: Linda Newland, Behan Gifford, Julie Lucchesi, Kira Maixner, Yosh Han
Watch on youTube
Women's Storytelling Night #2
​
Monday, Oct. 19 @ 7pm
Theme: "The Lighter Side"

Featuring storytellers: Lauren Knoebel, Zara Haimo, Joanne Bonds, Lindsay Dreilbas, Heidi Benson Stagg
Watch on YouTube

Meet our Founder: Linda Newland

Linda Newland joins the 28th annual IYC Women's Sailing Seminar as a founder, speaker, committee member and storyteller.

In our first of two WSS 2020 storytelling sessions, Linda shared her experience skippering from Hawai'i to San Francisco - including false starts, battles against big seas and a budding friendship between two very adventurous female sailors.
View video, transcript & photos

About the Women's Sailing Seminar

The Annual Women’s Sailing Seminar is organized and taught by women for women.

It started more than 25 years ago by Mary Quigley and Linda Newland who thought: “We need a workshop where women can learn about sailing from other women!”

The success of the seminar over the decades, empowering hundreds of women to enjoy the most fabulous sport of all, speaks for itself. Come join our incredible community of women sailors.
Please read our WSS Terms of Purchase and Code of Conduct. 
Previous highlights:
  • Sailing with Sophie: Episode 4 - Women's Sailing Seminar
  • 2019 Women's Sailing Seminar summary & photos
  • ​2018 Women's Sailing Seminar photos

Thank you to our sponsors...


​KKMI
Captain Morgan's Sail Charters
Pegasus Aeromarine Inc.
Latitude 38
Afterguard Sailing Academy
Modern Sailing School
Treasure Island Sailing Center
Margaret Fago
Adventure Wave - Worldwide Sailing
​Alameda Community Sailing Center
Bow Yoga
Pineapple Sails
Renegade Sailing
Club Nautique
Law Offices of Janet L. Frankel
​

Media kit

Women's Sailing Seminar 2020 Press Release
© 2020 - Island Yacht Club
Alameda, California, USA.

​Site design & updates: Ros de Vries & Alex Wolfe
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